Louver retaining clip for jalousie window



y 27, 1965 J. H. HOCHULI, JR., ETAL 3,196,498

LOUVER RETAINING CLIP FOR JALOUSIE WINDOW Filed May 24, 1963 y I; llllllllll lI/Illl! ll FIG. 1

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,196,498 LOUVER RETAINING CLIP FOR JALOUSIE WINDOW John H. Hochuli, Jrn, Syosset, and Gustav H. Lengenfelder, Woodbury, N.Y., assignors to Diamond Manufacturing Corp Middle Village, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 24, 1963, Ser. No. 282,984 Claims. (Cl. 20-62) This invention relates to jalousie Windows and more particularly to the mounting of the opposite ends of the panes of jalousie plate glass in such a manner that they can be more readily installed and so that broken panes can be more easily removed and replacement panes mounted in position. Still more particularly this invention relates to an improved retaining clip and its mounting on the conventional pivoted bracket member of a jalousie window mechanism.

In accordance with the invention, instead of mounting the louver retaining clip in immovably fixed position on the braket member, and also instead of making the retaining clip in two parts, mounting one of them so as to be laterally shiftable lengthwise of the louver pane, when it is desired to install, remove or replace a pane, as has been done heretofore, we have provided a one-piece retaining clip which is loosely mounted on the bracket member, that is, mounted for limited three-directional motion so as to permit the oppositely projecting resilient fingers of the clip to be tilted to a limited extent, and thus sup- 7 plement the resilient of the spring fingers in the installation, removal and reinsertion ofa louver pane.

The improved retaining clip has conventional flexible and resilient fingers extending in opposite directions to engage the surface of the pane opposite the surface engaged by the back panel of the bracket member. These fingers, however, project from lateral extensions disposed at right angles to a central body section with which the clip is provided. This central body section is disposed adjacent and parallel to the surface of the end panel. Means for loosely securing the body section in position projects from the surface of the end panel and, advantageously, into engagement with corner elements formed by shoulders at the opposite sides of the body section, and into engagement with the outer surface of this section.

The invention will be described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form of my novel construction of retaining clip, and its mounting, but it will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the construction shown.

In these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing a jalousie window construction including my improved retaining clip, the pane of jalousie plate glass being shown in cross section;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the improved clip and its mounting and a short section of the jalousie pane;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view takne on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view somewhat similar to FIG. 2 illustrat ing a modified form of the spring clip; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Referring to these drawings, reference numeral indicates generally a bracket member for supporting one end of a pane 11 of jalousie plate glass which forms one of the louvers of a jalousie window. Bracket 10 is pivoted by means of a rivet 12 to the vertical wall 13 of the window structure, and a conventional actuating link or travel bar 14 is pivoted at 15 to the end panel 16 of bracket member 10. The lower end of travel bar 14 is connected to a conventional operating mechanism (not shown) for adjusting the angular position of bracket 10 and pane 11.

The greatest dimensions of bracket 10 corresponds approximately with the width of pane 11 and, in addition to the end panel 16, has a back panel 17 which projects at right angles to the end panel and extends along the rear edge thereof. When the pane 11 of jalousie plate glass is in position with respect to the bracket 10, the end por- "tion of the pane rests against the surface of back panel 17 and is supported at the bottom by a lip portion 18 which is struck up at right angles to the bottom of back panel 17. The pane is positioned at its top edge by means of a stop flange 19 which projects at right angles to the surface of end panel 16 at the top edge thereof.

In order to held the opposite or inner surface of the pane 11 in position as just described, the improved retaining clip and its mounting on the end panel 16 come into action. Such retaining clip is indicated in its entirety by reference numeral 20. This retaining clip comprises a central body section 21 which is positioned adjacent and parallel to the surface of end panel 16. Central section 21 is generally of rectangular shape but has a cut-out or recess 22 extending inwardly from its inner edge to accommodate the opening 23 for pivot pin 12 and the head of this pin, thus providing central section with two parallel leg portions 24 and 25.

These leg portions are of equal length and each has an extension 26 which projects at right angles to the central section, these extensions being disposed in the same plane at right angles to the end panel 16 and parallel with the back panel 17. Projecting from the respective extensions 26' are upper and lower resilient fingers 27 and 28. The upper end of finger 27 is bent upwardly to form a finger grasp portion 29, while a similar finger grasp 30 is formed at the end of the lower finger 28-. It will be understood that the fingers 27 and 28 bear against the inner surface of the pane 11 on the opposite side from the back panel 17 In the ordinary arrangement of the retaining clip as heretofore constructed the clip is rigidly mounted on the bracket 10 so that only the flexibility of the retaining fingers is available to permit the insertion of the pane 11. It will be understood that during installation, or replacement of a broken pane, at least one end of the pane must be moved laterally, ususally from below, into position between the back panel 17 and the fingers 27 and 28 of the retaining clip.

The feature of our improved retaining clip 20 is the fact that it is loosely mounted upon but permanently attached to the end wall 16 of the bracket member 10. As shown in FIGS. 1-3 the loose or limited motion mounting of the retaining clip 20 is accomplished by means of hollow formations 31 which are pressed outwardly from the metal of the end panel 16. There are two of these formations which are spaced apart by the vertical dimension of central body section 21 and which are arranged to engage opposite corner elements 32 formed on the upper and lower edges of central section 21. Such corner elements are formed by cutting notches at the outer corners of this section so as to position the formations 31 a suitable distance inward from the inner edge of end panel 16.

Each of these formations 31 has -a wall portion 33 which is generally parallel with the upper and lower edges of central section 21 and a wall section 34 which is generally parallel with one of the shoulders formed by the notched corners of section 21. These wall sections 33 and 34 extend outwardly from the surface of end panel 16 a distance which is substantially greater than the thickness of the central section 21 (FIG. 3). The two wall sections 33 and 34 of each formation 31 terminate in a cap portion 35 which is spaced from the surface of end wall 16. The engagement of the two wall sections 33 .3 Y and 34 with the edges of cap portion 35 with the underlying portion of the outer surface of central section 21, serve to hold the retaining finger 20 in position, although this"memberghas;limited lengthwise movement, limited lateral movement and limited outward movement. I 1e Thus when it is desired to insert the end portion oL-a enhance central section 21, and of the pane oflouver glass, such as pane :11 into position be tween the back panel 17 and the resilient fingers 27 and 28 of retaining clip 20 by lateral movement or' the pane over the lip 18 at the bottom of. the device, the loose mounting of the retaining clip above;described permits the clip to swivel to a tilted .position with respect to the back panel 17 as shownby the det'and dash line position In this positiontheupper resilient finger, 27- is in contact with back panel 17 and the lower finger 2 8 is in FIG; 2.

moved outwardly a sufiicient distancetherefrom so as to allow the pane 11 to be moved upwardly over lip 18andinto Position beneath the two. fingers27 and 28 and against the stop flange 19 without bending the lower re,-

taining finger 28 sufiiciently to give it a permanent set. As the pane is shifted into final position, the vlower finger; 28 as wellias the upper finger 27 resiliently press the. surface of the pane against the surface of back panel 17. The distance of the walls '34 of formations 31,.from'the back panel 17 are arrangedto bring about such clamping or retaining action. 1

and parallel to the end panel, thebody section having two spaced extensions at right angles thereto, two resilient fingers projecting in opposite directions for engaging the pane on the opposite surface'thereof from the back panel,

' saidjfin'gers projecting from theire spective extensions, and

connections between the central section of the clip and the end panel which include oppositely positioned corner elements on the elongatedcentral section otv the clip, and

corner shaped formations pressed outwardly from the metal of the end panelso as freely to overlie the surface of the central section at each of .the corner elements, said formations also engaging the edges of thecentral section on both sides of each corner 'element, each connection providing three-dimensional movement and aifording rocking movement of the clip about each connection.

- 3 A jalousie window construction as set forth in claim 1 2'wherein the connections between the central section of the retaining clip and the end panel of the bracket memher comprise two openings, in the elongated central section, said openings being spaced from each other lengthwise" of the centralsection and on oppositesides of the lengthwiseeenter of the clip, anda 'tangstruck up from the surface of the end' panel oppositeeach of the openings, the tangs being substantially smaller. thanthe open- 'It will be understood that form-ations 31 are made by apressing operation after the retaining finger20has been placed in position with respect to the end panel 16 and the back panel 17.

Referring now to the modified form of bracket shown at 10a in ;FIG. ,4, there are two differences from the previous construction. One of these is the provision of a stop flange 35. at the top of the upper finger 2741. This fflange takes the place offla'nge 19.0f FIG. 2 for locating the upper edge of the pane ll'of ja'lou'sie glass. 7

The second difference is in the manner of loosely mounting the retaining clip on the inner surface, of the end wall of the bracket member. Instead of the forma-f tions 31 which engage loosely the corner elements 3210f ings, the outer portions ofsuch tangs being bent to overlie the outer surface of the central section in spaced relation thereto.

4. In a jalousie window construction, a bracket and 'retaining clip assembly fora pane of jalousie'plate glass .30

having an end'panel, a back panelintegr-al with the end 7 panel and at right angles thereto, means'for supporting clip' comprising an elongated central body section dis:

the'weight' of the pane on, the back panel, and a retaining posed adjacent and parallel to the end panel; the body section carrying two resilientfingers projecting in opposite directionsfor engagingthe pane on the opposite surface thereof. from the back panel; and releasable connections betWeen-the'central sectionof theclip and theend panel the central section- 21, this section as shown. at 21a in FIG. 4 isxarr'anged withtwo spaced apertures '36-, and' tangs 37 are cut from end wall16a and inserted inap ere tures 36. Thereafter the outerend portions 38 of these tangs are bent parallel with the end wall- 'so as'to overlie The dimensions of tangs 37 and I of apertures 36 are such as to provide the desired threethe central section 21a.

dimensional limited movement of the retaining clip 2011 with respect to the back panel 17a of the bracket member.;

We claim: 5 1. In a jalousie window construction, a bracket and comprising two spaced formations pressed outwardly from the end panel, and cooperating corner elements at the opposite ends of the central sect-ion offlthe clip, the corner elements extending beneath the respective formations whenthe resilient fingers are in position to receive a jalousie pane, at least one corner element being disengageable :from its holding formation when the central section is slid inwardly on the end panel towards the back panel thereby flexing at le'astone resilient finger and mov- 'ing inwardly theouter edge of atleast one corner element retaining clip assembly for a pane of jalousie plate glass 7 having an end panel, a backpanel integral with-the end panel and at right angles thereto, means .for, supporting the weight of the pa'neon the 'back panel andfaretaining clip comprising anelongated central' body section disposed adjacent and parallel to the end panel, the body f section carrying two resilient, fingers projecting in -opposite directions for engaging the pane on the opposite surface thereof from the back panel, and connections between the central section of theclip and the end panel at upper and lower locations spaced apart lengthwise of the clip and on opposite sides of the lengthwise center of the clip, each connection having co-acting parts respec tively on the end panel and on the cl-ip, which'parts incoacting with one another are ,sufliciently separated from one another to allow limited movement of the retaining clip in all directions.

2. In a jalousie window-construction, and bracket and retaining clip assembly for a pane of jalousie plate glass having an endpanel, a back panel integral with the end panel and at rightangles thereto, means for supporting the weight of the pane on the back panel, and a'retaining [j clip comprising a central bodysection disposed adjacent thereby releasing it from the inner edgeof the formation,

.each connection providing three-dimensional movement and affording rocking movement'o'f the clip about each connection; V

' v 5. A jalousie window construction as set forth in claim 4 wherein the releasable connections comprise two apertures providedin'the central section, onenear each end thereof, and twotangs cut fromthe end wall one adjacent each aperture, the apertures being larger than thetangs so that the t-angs pass loosely therethrough, the tangs 7 being bent outwardly to extend through the apertures and theouter portion of each tang being bent to overlie the surface of the central section, the 'clip being releasable by sliding the central section inwardly on the end panel towards the back panel and then bending outwardly the outer portion'of at least one ofthe tangs. 

1. IN A JALOUSIE WINDOW CONSTRUCTION, A BRACKET AND RETAINING CLIP ASSEMBLY FOR A PANE OF JALOUSIE PLATE GLASS HAVING AN END PANEL, A BACK PANEL INTEGRAL WITH THE END PANEL AND AT RIGHT ANGLES THERETO, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE WEIGHT OF THE PANE ON THE BACK PANEL AND A RETAINING CLIP COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CENTRAL BODY SECTION DISPOSED ADJACENT AND PARALLEL TO THE END PANEL, THE BODY SECTION CARRYING TWO RESILIENT FINGERS PROJECTING OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FOR ENGAGING THE PANE ON THE OPPOSITE SURFACE THEREOF FROM THE BACK PANEL, AND CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE CENTRAL SECTION OF THE CLIP AND THE END PANEL AT UPPER AND LOWER LOCATIONS SPACED APART LENGTHWISE CENTER OF THE CLIP AND ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE LENGTHWISE CENTER OF THE CLIP, EACH CONNECTION HAVING CO-ACTING PARTS RESPECTIVELY ON THE END PANEL AND ON THE CLIP, WHICH PARTS IN CO- 